Minutes 2025

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Minutes of Sutton Bridge Parish Assembly, held 19:00hrs Tuesday, 13 May 2025, in the Bridge Room, at the Curlew Centre

Present:

Parish Council Chair: M Middleton , Parish Clerk: C Smith ,Parish Council Members: Cllr T Baldry, Cllr M Booth, Cllr C Brewis, Cllr D Cook, Cllr T Judd, Cllr J Kirby-Fox, Cllr M Pitt, Cllr A Scarlett

Local Electors: 5

1. Welcome

The chair, Cllr Mary Middleton welcomed everyone to the meeting and gave a re-cap on how the PlayZone project came about and the subsequent fundraising efforts that had been made to raise the match funding element of the Project. £68,000 was needed to set against the Football Foundation funding of £207,000. The grant funding that had previously been offered by South Holland District Council as part of the UKSPFgrassroots scheme had been withdrawn as the timescales had not been met.

Grants for the funding had been applied for; however, this meeting had been called to discuss the possibility of a loan from SHDC if the grants were not achieved. The cost of a loan would be 1% above base rate. Initial indications were that a 15-year loan for £68,000 would cost a household £2.78 per year. 

2. Open Public Forum

Residents discussed the project and the possibility of a loan, the costs that would then be placed on the precept were estimated at £2.78, although this figure would be less for those residents with properties in lower bands. There would possibly also be a one-off solicitors cost to look at the agreement. It was noted that no costs would be incurred if it was paid off early. 

A Parish Poll was suggested by one member of the public, this was thought not necessary as the Assembly had been called. It was also noted that a Poll would take months to organise, and would be expensive, perhaps more than £6,000 as costs were similar to elections.

The group discussed the timeline and hoped the project could be delivered as soon as possible; it was proposed that the Assembly vote to agree to taking out a loan for any shortfall in match funding with South Holland District Council Parish Loan Protocol. All present agreed, with one exception as one resident abstained.

3. Pavilion

Cllr Middleton gave an update on the Pavilion project outlining the fundraising challenges with the withdrawal of government funding for local projects with the cessation of the community ownership fund. Other sources of funding were being explored with the Football Foundation and Lottery fund.

Cllr Middleton thanked all for attending and with there being no other business, the meeting closed at 19:45 hrs.